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Remodeling Design Dilemma Exterior

Dutch Colonial - exterior help needed

3 years ago

So I hate the exterior design of our dutch colonial. Also an addition was added before we bought it, and I love the interior addition, but don't love the way it looks from the outside.

Any thoughts on if a professional could add a porch or awning? My husband thinks so, but I just think it would look funky with the low ceilings. Obviously the left side would have to be leveled off.

Any other ideas to make it more appealing?

I took two photos because I couldn't get the whole house in the shot because of trees.

Featured Answer

freedomplace1

3 years ago

It looks like a very nice house to me.

I would focus on increasing visual interest in landscaping +add lighting on grounds. Also, larger lights to flank door.

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Comments (7)

decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
I would get a new front door and lantern lights 1/3 of its height (add matching lights flanking the garage door instead of the motion spot,) add a walk out to the front curb, close up the windows on the garage door, and improve the landscaping with curved beds flanking the asphalt and walk. You should consider painting the dormers to match the roof shingles and recede. They are the first thing I saw, then the garage, and last your front door. That's backwards.
Laura thanked decoenthusiaste
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Your ideas are perfect and will definitely add curb appeal. Dark blue grey with a white trim will look smart and a few more details like the foundation slats suggested above is a great consideration depending on the landscaping. Here are some inspiration pics. I hope this helps. #1 Note the white railing, white stair and white round columns. Also a simple straight awning along the porch and matching awnings on the second floor give this sweet curb appeal. Looks like boxwood along the foundation. #2 Note the heavier white railing and tapered square columns. You may want to consider doing a heavier trim around the windows and door. #3 Cute idea with a curved trim around porch and shutters on the second floor windows only. #4 Note the very interesting decoration at the peak of the house and with a paint color change! #5 Again note this interesting decoration at the peak. It doesn't have to be a window at the peak, it can be a louvre oval painted the same as the trim. This shows how nice a heavy trim around the windows and doors look. Don't forget the most important focus is your front door. It should be important and welcoming. I love all the moulding around the front door. #6 Again heavy white trim, square tapered columns, white stair. Love the hydrangeas! #7 Beautiful inspiration #8 Note the double round columns. I tried to find a better pic, but if you can imagine, the top part of the peak is scalloped shingles.
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I love a Dutch Colonial as much as anyone, but the fact that the Dutch portion exists solely and exclusively within a minor add-on detail (the roof overhang) it is neither attractive or remotely convincing, and looks completely out of place fronting a ranch gable. I would get rid of this detail and make the house into what it architecturally really is. That the grade drops down as one approaches the steps is another bothersome feature. Level the grade, or let it climb ever so slightly, between drive and steps. (It will be sloping away from the house entirely along this path.) Eliminate at least the bottom step.
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Thank you all for the feedback, it's giving me a lot to think about! I'm inspired by the dark green, and came across this image in another discussion - wow. BUT, i could commit to all creamy white with dark gutters and shutters and feel good with that choice too. I think I'm letting go of dark windows unless it's a dark on dark (green) monochromatic look. However, right now the house reads "green" and has always been green, so I really don't want to spend all this $$ and effort and have it look more or less the same.
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I just enlarged the picture and saw it is Navy which wouldn't be like your neighbour. Love the look! And yes those white dydrangeas are also gorgeous and looks like you have space for that under your porch. I had hydrangeas in all of my home gardens, still do, and they grow quickly...
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ShadyWillowFarm
3 years ago
What addition??!!! I love the house! The front door looks out of place - what about a new color?
Laura
Original Author
3 years ago
What color door would look okay? i love all things bright, but don't want it to look crazy.
decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
Your oval glass in the front door makes a Victorian statement that doesn't go with the house. Search "mansard roof" here to find door styles that work better. Here's an alternative if you want to go big budget.

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threers
3 years ago
Your house is so very like the one we left years ago in New Hampshire. We had no shutters on the windows but shutters on each side of the front door...and yes you need to find a more appropriate front door. Two light fixtures flanked the shutters on the door. We had a stone wall built on the left side of the house so that the flower bed on that side did not slope down. We lived 17 happy years in our Dutch Colonial; I wish you and your family the same.
Gina Rollins
2 years ago
German smear in creamy white, natural wood shutters, new door and light, and new garage doors without all the black hinges. You would have a beautiful home.

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